At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead daily operations at Cowdray Ruins, ensuring a top-notch visitor experience.
- Company: Join the Cowdray Heritage Trust, dedicated to preserving history and enhancing visitor engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hands-on leadership role, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on health & safety and audience development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a heritage environment while developing exciting visitor experiences.
- Qualifications: Strong operational judgement and experience in managing teams and events.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 € per year.
The Operations Manager plays a central role in the day-to-day delivery and continuous development of Cowdray Ruins as a visitor destination. You will be responsible for the smooth and safe running of the Visitor Centre, Café, events programme, and all public-facing operations, ensuring consistently high standards of visitor experience while supporting the Trust’s wider conservation and development goals. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring strong operational judgement, a practical mindset, and the ability to balance heritage sensitivity with commercial and audience development ambitions. You will also play a key role in shaping how the site grows, helping to increase footfall, improve visitor experience, and maximise the use of accessible spaces in a heritage environment that is actively evolving.
Key Responsibilities
- Operational Leadership
- Lead day-to-day operations across the Visitor Centre, Café, and public-facing areas
- Ensure safe, efficient, and consistently high-quality visitor experience delivery
- Manage site opening/closing procedures, security, and duty management cover
- Recruit, induct, train, and support staff and volunteers
- Foster a high-performing, visitor-focused team culture
- Ensure staffing levels and costs remain within agreed budgets
- Health & Safety and compliance
- Lead and embed a strong Health & Safety culture across the site
- Maintain, review, and implement Risk Assessments and operational procedures
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation and site-specific requirements
- Monitor site condition and oversee required maintenance and remedial actions
- Events and audience development
- Plan and deliver an annual events and engagement programme
- Maximise use of available spaces to grow audiences and increase income
- Support development of new visitor experiences and activities
- Marketing and communications
- Oversee social media activity and website content relating to the Ruins
- Support public understanding of Cowdray Heritage Trust’s mission and activities
- Contribute to audience development and promotional planning
- Visitor experience and engagement
- Handle visitor enquiries in person, by email, and via phone
- Maintain a culture of exceptional service
- Support audience research, including surveys and feedback analysis
- Finance and operations
- Support budgeting and financial monitoring with the General Manager
- Ensure operational sustainability through effective cost control and planning
- Site stewardship and wider projects
- Coordinate outsourced maintenance and contractors
- Support the evolving Masterplan project where required
- Contribute to long-term operational planning for the site
Operations Manager in Midhurst employer: Cowdray
Cowdray Ruins offers an exceptional work environment for the Operations Manager, where you will be at the forefront of enhancing visitor experiences in a stunning heritage setting. With a strong emphasis on employee development, a collaborative team culture, and a commitment to conservation, this role provides unique opportunities to shape the future of a beloved destination while ensuring operational excellence. Join us in making a meaningful impact as we grow and evolve together.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Operations Manager in Midhurst
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with others on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its values. Tailor your answers to show how your experience aligns with their mission, especially around visitor experience and operational excellence.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on leadership skills! During interviews, share specific examples of how you've successfully managed teams and improved operations in previous roles. This will highlight your practical mindset and operational judgement.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team at Cowdray Ruins.
We think you need these skills to ace Operations Manager in Midhurst
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Heritage:When writing your application, let your love for heritage and visitor experiences shine through. We want to see how you connect with the mission of Cowdray Ruins and how you can contribute to its growth.
Be Specific About Your Experience:Highlight your previous roles and responsibilities that align with the Operations Manager position. We’re looking for concrete examples of how you've led teams, managed operations, and improved visitor experiences in similar settings.
Keep It Professional Yet Personal:While we appreciate a friendly tone, make sure your application maintains professionalism. Share your personality, but also demonstrate your understanding of the operational challenges and goals outlined in the job description.
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity at Cowdray Ruins.
How to prepare for a job interview at Cowdray
✨Know the Operations Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the day-to-day operations of a visitor destination like Cowdray Ruins. Familiarise yourself with their Visitor Centre, Café, and events programme. This will help you demonstrate your operational judgement and practical mindset during the interview.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this role requires hands-on leadership, be prepared to discuss your experience in managing teams. Share specific examples of how you've fostered a high-performing, visitor-focused culture in previous roles. Highlight your ability to recruit, train, and support staff effectively.
✨Emphasise Health & Safety Knowledge
Given the importance of health and safety in this role, brush up on relevant legislation and best practices. Be ready to talk about how you've implemented risk assessments and operational procedures in past positions to ensure compliance and safety for visitors.
✨Engage with Audience Development Strategies
Think about innovative ways to enhance visitor experience and increase footfall. Prepare to discuss any past experiences where you've successfully planned and delivered events or developed new visitor activities. This will show your commitment to audience engagement and the Trust’s conservation goals.
